The Clifton clarion., 1887-06-15
A HEROINE OF TWO WARS. The Romantic Life Story of old
 Crazy Peggy"

crazy PeEEy."
 There died in an humble apart ment in this city the other day a woman with remarkable history, If her statements are trustworthy. Even her neighbors did not know her real name, and it is from a friend Of the woman, who had heard her history frequently, that the story comes. She was the daughter of an English lord and heiress to moderate estate. On the adjoining estate lived another lord, to whose son she was be- trothed. When the Crimean war broke out the lover enlisted. For a few months after his departure letters were received with regu- larity from him, and he seemed to be in good health and spirits. Sud denly all correspondence ceased. His name did not appear in the death list which was published in the London papers, and it was evil dent he was either sick or a pris- oner. In an agony of fear and anxiety she could stand the sus- pense no longer, and determined to go in quest of him. Her par rents, however, forbade it, and her friends dissuaded her for a short time. But the continued silence proved unbearable, and she finally stole from home one night, secured an appointment as nurse, and be- fore her relatives had obtained clue to her whereabouts, was on her way to the front. Reaching the Bosphorus, she was placed in one of the hospitals at a small town near the border. She scanned with eagerness the faces of the sick and dying, but found no sign of him she sought. Remembering that he might be in the same con- dition as was the poor soldiers around her, she entered into the work os ministration with all her heart. Her efforts were re- warded in an unexpected way, for one day, in talking with one of the wounded men, she ascertained that he had been in the same regiment with her lover, and that the latter was a captive in the hands of the Russians. From that moment. al though quietly continuing her nursing, she bent all her faculties to planning some scheme by which she might gain access to her lover's place of confinement. She finally concluded to assume the role of a spy, and requested permission from the commanding officer to act in that capacity. He at first refused, but upon her pleading earnestly he gave his consent and supplied her with the papers necessary for her passing the English lines.
 She disguised herself and pre- tended she was half-witted, and by that means got within the Russian territory. 50 artfully did she play her part that she became quite a favorite with the soldiers, who styled her Crazy Peggy" and al lowed her to do as she pleased. It was many weeks before she learned the town in which her betrothed was prisoner. By neat strata gem she induced the keeper of the prison to give her access to the cells. The jailor thought her a harmless creature, and permitted her to chat at will with the English captives. She soon disclosed her identity to her lover, and together they planned an escape. On a dark, stormy night she acted more insanely than ever, and in one of her fits snatched the keys from the belt of the warden. Running down the stairs, she unlocked several of the doors, including the one be- hind which her betrothed was con fined. In an instant he was out, and, hidden in a dark corner, he donned q Russian uniform fur nished by the faithful girl. The jailor gave chase to Crazy Peggy" and regained the keys, but not be- fore her lover had walked up the stairs and out into the open air. Peggy" followed him and they fled through the darkness until they reached the picket line. Here the password, which had been dis covered by Peggy" enabled them to gain the open space between iha rival armies. An Enolisb coal